For the second part of this trip we made our way to central Hokkaido. We stayed in Asahikawa which granted us the flexibility to check out the different zones in this area (at the expense of longer drive times of course).

I would consider this the better half of the trip, given that we got to explore the Tokachi range, and the fact that I’m a big terrain + views guy versus mindless powder laps.

A quick breakdown of our days:

• Otoe-yama: A chill powder day, and the first time really seeing locals out and about - we mostly seemed to encounter only Americans/Aussies/Europeans in part 1.
• Furano-dake Giant Ridge: A questionable visibility day, with deep powder on souths and windbuff on norths.
• Tokachi Range: Checking out Kamihorokamettoku-yama and Kamifurano-dake to be specific. No doubt the best day of the trip - blue skies, boottop powder, and great terrain. The constant wind on the ridges was absolutely brutal though.
• Chitokaniushi-yama: A chill romp exploring the northern side of central Hokkaido. The snow and terrain weren’t the best so we bounced early.
• Takenoko-yama: Our last day, a deep one with more of that PNW-dense snow, dense enough for Rio to break a ski on. Great way to end it before booking it back to the airport.

A nice powder day on Otoe-yama

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Yummy rimey trees

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Looking across the valley at the other side; this is indicative of the kind of terrain we were skiing today, minus the glide crack

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Starting the day on Furano-dake with a couple creek crossings

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Great skiing but little views today. Looking at the crater under Kamihorokamettoku-yama. Peep the geyser emitting smoke on the left ridge.

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The next day with clearer views, looking down at the crater from yesterday

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This was our actual final view of Yotei-zan, center, all the way in the distance. Furano-dake in the foreground, Ashibetsu-dake looking like Denali on the left (well it kind of it from the road).

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Tokachi-dake looking tall and Asahi-dake in the distance

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A very active geyser. I think you can get close to it as a ski tour but not sure I’d be up for it personally

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Full view of Tokachi-dake

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Ishikari-dake

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Nipesotsu-yama

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Upepesanke-yama

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Above the clouds, and trying to beat the incoming fog on the backside of Kamifurano-dake

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Ashibetsu-dake again, with now Yubari-dake visible on the left

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We were the only ones skiing in this white desert

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I make more turns than Chris clearly 😂

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Always dreeeaaamed of turns like these

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Wind effect in various places, but none in our ski lines

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This is always how I imagined Alaska to look (the front range at least) - white, shallow, and rocky

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Back down to the crater, what a day

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Chill day seeing some trees on Chitokaniushi-yama

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Again I wish the reds came out a little better, looked much cooler in person

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Looking south at the Asahi-dake mountains

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Those tree bombs would hurt

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Snow Monsters as the Japanese would call them

Bonus Pics from Tokyo

We stayed around two days in Tokyo before heading back to the States. While I love the mountains and what they mean to me, the few days we spent here probably left more of an impression, having never been to Asia as an adult and generally not prioritizing international travel.

Buddy of mine hyped this ramen place up and boy did it deliver

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Golden hour at Meiji Jingu

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I’d love to come back again in the morning next time

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Astounded by the density of people in Tokyo generally, but this was most apparent in Shibuya

Unsolicited Thoughts on Skiing in Hokkaido

Lots of thoughts, todo...